2021-03-17

Annapolis County business wins $135,000 tender to renovate Mahone Bay’s town hall

by KEITH CORCORAN

Mid-Valley Construction of Annapolis County is expected to complete renovations to all three floors of town hall in Mahone Bay, including refreshes of the council chambers, offices and washroom facilities.

The town is paying the Wilmot company roughly $135,000 to finish the job, which, the mayor explained, is expected to wrap up by the end of March, or first part of April.

"They've got the rooms stripped back to nothing, and I believe they are beginning in earnest on Monday [March 8]," David Devenne, Mahone Bay's mayor, recently told LighthouseNOW of the pending work.

Other than some "fine tuning," the project is what was envisioned for the Main Street building as described in the public tender, Devenne said during a phone interview.

"Part of it is around accessibility [issues], and part of it is around COVID-19, and we're also getting some things repaired that were picked up in a survey of the town hall building a year before last."

The procurement noted the work would deal with "accessibility issues, increase energy efficiency, improve staff and public safety."

The project includes renovation of the second-floor washroom, which will be complemented by a second-floor public entrance from Aberdeen Lane. The second floor also sees new partitions added to create an office and lunch room area, while the coffee area in the council chambers meeting room will be demolished and rebuilt as a storage spot.

Installation of Plexiglass, barriers, a new side door and service window on first floor, and changes to office space are designed to provide a safe working environment for staff and council in the building.

It was in 1919 that civic politicians hosted their first meeting at the town hall. It helps that most office staff are working remotely, as are the functions of council and committee meetings, so the job sees fewer inconveniences for politicians and personnel.

Electrical outlets and wiring will be upgraded to suit the new office layout.

Information technology network cables and jacks will be repaired, replaced or added. There will be door and staircase changes on the first floor.

"The work that's being done, I wouldn't call major structural changes," Devenne noted.

"It's a wall here, and moving a wall there, and some new flooring, and the ramp that goes through the back of the building to accommodate people in wheelchairs. That sort of thing."

Flooring, walls and electrical aspects will be among the focuses of adjustments on the third floor.

Exterior work also takes place to the building's roof, siding and rain gutters.

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